Ones To Watch: The Survival Code

The Survival Code are Gary McGuinness (lead vocals/guitars) and Tom Cook (drums/backing vocals).

Categorically proving that less is more, London-based two-piece The Survival Code fuse cathartic, muscular riffs and pummelling beats with great aplomb. The stripped-back yet finely-honed din the duo concoct draws overt parallels to their musical kindred spirits Royal Blood, but their unwavering eye for a killer hook, frontman Gary’s searing melodies and their oft-weighty lyrical themes truly mark them out as a band primed to carve their own niche in the rock world.

The Survival Code’s history stretches back to 2011 when lynchpin Gary moved to London from his native Dublin. Despite a constantly revolving door of bass players, drummer Tom Cook has been a mainstay of the band since he met Gary on Gumtree in 2012. Joining forces with acclaimed producer Matt Hyde (Slipknot, Ash, Trivium), the then trio unleased their debut album ‘MMXV’ to the world in 2015 picking up some glowing press reviews in the process. This paved the way nicely for their ‘Broken Strings EP’ in 2017, which piqued the interests both Kerrang! Radio and Planet Rock.

Trimmed down and reinvigorated as a duo, The Survival Code returned to the fore this year and have so far unleashed a series of hard-hitting and towering anthems. Premiered in February, lead single ‘Not Working’ melds chugging guitars with Biffy Clyro-esque vocals and potent lines about the contemporary world (“This modern life, takes no prisoners, digitalise, everything around, nothing matters now”). Keeping up the ante, ‘Along The Way’ is an instantly infectious singalong gem, while the crushingly heavy ‘Crawl’ is an ode to those who constantly get knocked down in life.

With their ominously titled second album ‘Hopelessness Of People’ set for release on Friday 31st August via Good Deeds Music, judging by these trio of tantalising tasters, the omens are looking very good indeed.

See The Survival Code at the following shows:

AUGUST 2018
London The Finsbury – Fri 31st (album launch show)

SEPTEMBER 2018
London The Rocksteady – Sat 15th

NOVEMBER 2018
London Nambucca – Thu 1st
London Dublin Castle – Thu 29th  

You can keep up-to-date with The Survival Code by visiting their official website and following them on Facebook, Twitter and Soundcloud.